benefit by (something)

To gain from a particular experience, change, or occurrence. We will all benefit by moving to a warmer, sunnier climate. You may hate it now, but I guarantee you will benefit by your time as an intern. Of course I would benefit by a vacation, but I'm just swamped at work right now.

benefit from (something)

To gain from a particular experience, change, or occurrence. We will all benefit from moving to a warmer, sunnier climate. You may hate it now, but I guarantee you will benefit from your time as an intern. Of course I would benefit from a vacation, but I'm just swamped at work right now.

benefit of discussion

A legal clause entitling a surety the right to have a creditor proceed against the principal debtor first before pursuing the surety for any further payment. Also known as beneficium excussionis. The judge ruled that the because Mr. Smith had not expressly renounced the benefit of discussion clause, the bank could not sue him for payment until they had pursued the owner of the property first. Hey, why are we, the surety, being sued when there is a benefit of discussion in place? Get money out of the other guy first! Be careful, man—they're going to sue you first if there's a benefit of discussion in that contract you signed.

for (one's) benefit

Largely (or solely) to help one. I hope you're not doing that for my benefit—I don't really have a preference at all. I only said that for your sister's benefit, so she won't worry. Honestly, I don't expect this situation to get better any time soon. I know you're bored, so don't stick around for my benefit—I'll be fine on my own.

friend with benefits

A friend or acquaintance with whom one has casual sexual interactions without the commitment of a formal relationship. After two long, ultimately painful relationships, I'm just looking to find a friend with benefits these days. John says he and Susan are just friends with benefits, but I think he's falling for her. I'm worried about those two being friends with benefits. I really hope they don't end up with broken hearts.

friendship with benefits

A friendship or acquaintance in which the partners engage in casual sexual activity but are not in a formal, committed relationship with one another. After two long, ultimately painful relationships, I'm just looking for friendship with benefits these days. John says he and Susan just have a friendship with benefits, but I think he's falling for her. I'm worried about those two and their friendship with benefits. I really hope they don't end up with broken hearts.

fringe benefit

1. A non-monetary perk, incentive, or benefit for working a job that is given in addition to one's normal wage or salary. One of the fringe benefits of working here is getting free lunch in the cafeteria. We offer a number of universal fringe benefits for all our employees, including health and dental insurance, company cars, and pensions. Your job gives you a free pass for public transportation? That's a pretty sweet fringe benefit, especially since you live in the city.

2. By extension, an additional perk that comes included with something else. Honor society membership looks great on college applications, and it comes with the fringe benefit of giving you teaching experience, since you'll be asked to tutor other students. I had a blast as Boy Scout. Learning survival skills was kind of a fringe benefit, given all the fun we had. I was just looking to get some work experience during college. Meeting my now-girlfriend at that office was a very unexpected fringe benefit!

get the benefit of the doubt

To be viewed in a favorable or neutral way when all information is not yet available, rather than being judged or criticized preemptively. You're my sister! Can't I get the benefit of the doubt, instead of you believing the worst about me? OK, you've got the benefit of the doubt, since we know there's probably a good explanation for all this. I know the evidence is troubling, but Tom's my oldest friend. He gets the benefit of the doubt until the police tell me otherwise.

give (one) the benefit of (something)

To explain something to one in great detail, often when doing so is unwelcome or unappreciated. Yes, Aunt Ida was so kind as to give me the benefit of the whole story of how she bought peaches by mistake. A: "Did Uncle Harry give you the benefit of the history of his antique binocular collection?" B: "Oh, he sure did. There's an hour I'll never get back!" Do not ask Grandpa about the weather unless you want him to give you the benefit of his extensive "Farmers' Almanac" knowledge.

give (someone or something) the benefit of the doubt

To retain a favorable or at least neutral opinion of someone or something until the full information about the subject is available. You're my sister! Can't you give me the benefit of the doubt, instead of believing the worst about me right away? Let's give him the benefit of the doubt before we start accusing him. There may be a good explanation for the missing money. I know the evidence is troubling, but Tom's my oldest friend. I have to give him the benefit of the doubt until the police tell me otherwise.

have the benefit of the doubt

To be viewed in a favorable or neutral way when all information is not yet available, rather than being judged or criticized preemptively. You're my sister! Can't I at least have the benefit of the doubt, instead of you believing the worst about me straight away? Look, let's let him have the benefit of the doubt for now. There's probably a good explanation for all this. I know the evidence is troubling, but Tom's my oldest friend. He has the benefit of the doubt until the police tell me otherwise.

of benefit

Giving or acting as a benefit (to someone or something); serving to help, promote, or enhance (someone or something). If you think this new tax law will be of benefit to anyone other than the top 1% of citizens. I've heard enough. There are too many unknowns and not enough of benefit in this proposal for me to accept it.

reap the benefits

To enjoy the rewards resulting from something. You'll always reap the benefits of hard work—don't ever forget that. He was ultimately fined for the dodgy deal, which had seen his company reap the benefits of large-scale investments without any tax burden.

the benefit of the doubt

The withholding of judgment so as to retain a favorable or at least neutral opinion of someone or something when the full information about the subject is not yet available. You're my sister! Can't you give me the benefit of the doubt, instead of believing the worst about me? Let's give him the benefit of the doubt before we start accusing him. There may be a good explanation.

See also: benefit, doubt, of

benefit by something

and benefit from something

to profit or gain by something. We hope to benefit by the collapse of our competition. We will all benefit from the new tax laws.

benefit of the doubt

a judgment in one's favor when the evidence is neither for one nor against one. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) I was right between a B and an A. I got the benefit of the doubt—an A. I thought I should have had the benefit of the doubt, but the judge made me pay a fine.

See also: benefit, doubt, of

for one's (own) sake

for one's good or benefit; in honor of someone. I have to earn a living for my family's sake. I did it for my mother's sake.

for someone (or something's) sake

and for the sake of someone or something

for the purpose or benefit of someone or something; to satisfy the demands of someone or something. I made a meatless dinner for John's sake; he's a vegetarian. The teacher repeated the assignment for the sake of the slower students.

of benefit (to someone)

serving someone well; to the good of someone. I can't believe that this proposal is of benefit to anyone. Oh, I'm sure you'll find the new health plan to be of benefit.

give the benefit of the doubt

Regard someone as innocent until proven otherwise; lean toward a favorable view of someone. For example, Let's give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that she's right. [Mid-1800s]

give someone the benefit of the doubt

COMMON

1. If you give someone the benefit of the doubt, you decide to believe that what they are saying is honest, even though it is possible that they are not telling the truth. As to whether she deliberately lied or got the facts wrong, I suppose we could give her the benefit of the doubt.

2. If you give someone the benefit of the doubt, you decide to believe that what they are doing is right, even though it is possible that they are doing something wrong. I am basically a trusting person. I make it a practice to give everyone the benefit of the doubt.

See also: benefit, doubt, give, of, someone

give someone the benefit of

— explain or recount to someone at length (often used ironically when someone pompously or impertinently assumes that their knowledge or experience is superior to that of the person to whom they are talking).

1999 Stage Our courses are delivered by 2 current TV personalities who will give you the benefit of their 6 years experience.

the benefit of the doubt

a concession that someone or something must be regarded as correct or justified, if the contrary has not been proved.

See also: benefit, doubt, of

for somebody’s ˈbenefit

especially in order to help or be useful to somebody: There’s no need to repeat everything for my benefit. ♢ I have produced some notes for the benefit of those people who weren’t at the meeting.

give somebody the ˌbenefit of the ˈdoubt

accept that a person is right or innocent because you cannot prove that they are not: She said she was late because of the traffic and I gave her the benefit of the doubt.

See also: benefit, doubt, give, of, somebody

benefit of the doubt

A favorable judgment granted in the absence of full evidence.

See also: benefit, doubt, of

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

benefit of the doubt, to give/have the

To assume or treat as innocent when there is conflicting evidence. The term comes from the law in many countries, whereby a person must be assumed to be innocent of a crime unless definitely proved to be guilty; in other words, when in doubt, the verdict must be “not guilty.” The expression began to be used figuratively for all kinds of situation in the nineteenth century.